Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Sepia Saturday- Work

Here's all the work related photos I could find.

  My mother was the secretary of the Lee County, Ill. states attorney at one time. This was a picture in the paper about a murder trial. The caption says "State's County Attorney Edward Jones is shown with his secretary". Of course she wasn't named. After all, she was just a secretary! Notice the phone in the background. It wasn't even on her desk. She had to get up and go over to the wall to answer it. She probably did most of the hard work on getting this case to trial, also.


Here she is much later as secretary to a doctor in Pomona, CA. I had painted the angel on the window for Christmas. I was in high school at the time.



When I grew up I joined the world of "Mad Men" and worked in advertising agencies. Here I am at my second job. (My first one was at a record company.) I was a paste-up artist. If I were a man this would have been the precursor to being an art director but at this agency I was told women couldn't become art directors. If you read an old Sepia Saturday post of mine you would have heard me whining about this before.


Here's a typical "Mad Men" day at the office:

Here's another one:
Sorry, you old Sepia Saturday readers, you've seen all this before. I couldn't resist posting these again, though, now that Mad Men is back on T.V.

I did become an art director after I left this agency thanks to Dennis Juette (the guy on the left) who hired me when he moved on to another agency.
All's well that ends well!

For more Sepia Saturday stories go to http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/
To see my sister's Sepia Saturday post about my father at work click on the "Ladies of the Grove" link on the top left.


12 comments:

Christine H. said...

I don't mind at all seeing those photos for a second time, along with the new ones. They're so wonderful. I also really like the picture of your mother in front of the window with the angel you painted. Your mother looks great and so does your angel.

Bob Scotney said...

Having seen Nancy's post about your Dad you have added another dimension to the 'work' theme in your family. Glad someone saw the light and that you made it to art director.

Alan Burnett said...

It might make me an old SS reader but I instantly recognised those pictures of you from when you posted them before, but there is absolutely no need to apologise and they are well worth a second (and third, and fourth) showing. As for the picture of your mum - another example of how such small and simple photos can tell us so much about the times they illustrate

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Hi Barbara, I must have missed them the first time around, so I am really glad that you posted them again. Is that guy with the pipe staring at your chest, lol?

This is an awesome post. Glad times have changed; I can just imagine how hard your Mom worked for that lawyer. Loved your angel painting too!

I'm sorry about your Dad; what a wonderful man he was. Have a great weekend,

Kathy M

Little Nell said...

So glad you got to get the right job with the right title in the end. Your obviously worked hard and deserved it just as much as a man. Great Mad Men pics!

Wendy said...

Indeed, these photos are VERY Mad Men-esque. You go, Peggy!

Queen Bee said...

Enjoyed your post - what great pictures! They do look just like the Mad Men show. I imagine you could tell some stories about being a working woman during that era. Glad to hear you were acknowledged for your talent and successful with your career. Your mom was a lovely woman - it was interesting to read about both of your parents this week.

Postcardy said...

It's good that you got to be an art director in the end. It's funny seeing the pipe hanging out of one man's mouth. It seems like pipes were a popular accessory in photos back then.

Unknown said...

Good photos that show the times, of our own lives yet, when women did not advance and run things as today. It was a good reminisce. You have to get a kick out of Mad Men having worked there before it was discovered!

Kristin said...

I'm glad you got your promotion. I must have missed these the first time around too.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures - your angel is terrific, and your Mum looks so happy. Things have changed hugely for women in the world of work in a such a short time :-) Jo

Tattered and Lost said...

I remember going into an agency with my portfolio and the only question I was asked was how fast could I type. I wouldn't have even started in paste-up at that place. I didn't go into advertising. I looked at the ads they proudly displayed on their wall and thought, "Do I really want to be responsible for making Standard Oil look good?"

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